JOYCE — Joyce Fire and Rescue has strengthened its wildfire response with the addition of a new brush truck.
The four-wheel-drive vehicle will be used for wildland firefighting and can carry 400 gallons of water, equipment, and a crew of four into rugged terrain. The truck was donated by the Washington Department of Natural Resources after Quartermaster Carolyn Flint successfully applied for one of DNR’s surplus vehicles.
The district has also increased its wildland firefighting capability with several volunteers now certified through the Incident Qualification Card, or Red Card, program, which requires extensive training and physical testing.
DNR State Forester George Geissler says local fire districts are a critical first line of defense, able to reach fires quickly and keep them small.
Fire officials say the new equipment and trained personnel will improve wildfire protection in the Joyce area.